US imposes sanctions on Venezuela Supreme Court

The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on members of Venezuela's Supreme Court following a series of rulings that the US says has usurped power from the nation's opposition-controlled congress and sparked a deadly wave of unrest.

The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on members of Venezuela's Supreme Court following a series of rulings that the US says has usurped power from the nation's opposition-controlled congress and sparked a deadly wave of unrest.

The US Department of the Treasury announced Thursday it is freezing the assets of eight Venezuelan government officials on the Supreme Court in an effort to support the Venezuelan people "in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance".

A ruling issued in late March that stripped Venezuela's congress of its last powers was later reversed amid a storm of international criticism.

But near-daily anti-government protests were triggered by the ruling and have continued across the country, with more than 40 people killed.

The US move marks the second round of sanctions Donald Trump has imposed on high-level Venezuelan officials since taking office.